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Chapter 256J

Section 256J.32

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256J.32 DOCUMENTING, VERIFYING, AND RECERTIFYING ELIGIBILITY.
    Subdivision 1. Verification of information. A county agency must only require verification
of information necessary to determine MFIP eligibility and the amount of the assistance payment.
    Subd. 2. Documentation. The applicant or participant must document the information
required under subdivisions 4 to 6 or authorize the county agency to verify the information. The
applicant or participant has the burden of providing documentary evidence to verify eligibility.
The county agency shall assist the applicant or participant in obtaining required documents when
the applicant or participant is unable to do so. The county agency may accept a signed personal
statement from the applicant or participant only for factors specified under subdivision 8.
    Subd. 3. Contacting third parties. A county agency must not request information about an
applicant or participant that is not of public record from a source other than county agencies, the
department, or the United States Department of Health and Human Services without the person's
prior written consent. An applicant's signature on an application form constitutes consent for
contact with the sources specified on the application. A county agency may use a single consent
form to contact a group of similar sources, such as banks or insurance agencies, but the sources to
be contacted must be identified by the county agency prior to requesting an applicant's consent.
    Subd. 4. Factors to be verified. The county agency shall verify the following at application:
(1) identity of adults;
(2) presence of the minor child in the home, if questionable;
(3) relationship of a minor child to caregivers in the assistance unit;
(4) age, if necessary to determine MFIP eligibility;
(5) immigration status;
(6) Social Security number according to the requirements of section 256J.30, subdivision 12;
(7) income;
(8) self-employment expenses used as a deduction;
(9) source and purpose of deposits and withdrawals from business accounts;
(10) spousal support and child support payments made to persons outside the household;
(11) real property;
(12) vehicles;
(13) checking and savings accounts;
(14) savings certificates, savings bonds, stocks, and individual retirement accounts;
(15) pregnancy, if related to eligibility;
(16) inconsistent information, if related to eligibility;
(17) burial accounts;
(18) school attendance, if related to eligibility;
(19) residence;
(20) a claim of family violence if used as a basis to qualify for the family violence waiver;
(21) disability if used as the basis for an exemption from employment and training services
requirements under section 256J.56 or as the basis for reducing the hourly participation
requirements under section 256J.55, subdivision 1, or the type of activity included in an
employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 2; and
(22) information needed to establish an exception under section 256J.24, subdivision 9.
    Subd. 5.[Repealed, 1998 c 407 art 6 s 118]
    Subd. 5a. Inconsistent information. When the county agency verifies inconsistent
information under subdivision 4, clause (16), or 6, clause (5), the reason for verifying the
information must be documented in the financial case record.
    Subd. 6. Recertification. The county agency shall recertify eligibility in an annual
face-to-face interview with the participant and verify the following:
    (1) presence of the minor child in the home, if questionable;
    (2) income, unless excluded, including self-employment expenses used as a deduction or
deposits or withdrawals from business accounts;
    (3) assets when the value is within $200 of the asset limit;
    (4) information to establish an exception under section 256J.24, subdivision 9, if
questionable;
    (5) inconsistent information, if related to eligibility; and
    (6) whether a single caregiver household meets requirements in section 256J.575,
subdivision 3.
    Subd. 7. Notice to undocumented persons; release of private data. County agencies in
consultation with the commissioner of human services shall provide notification to undocumented
persons regarding the release of personal data to the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services and develop protocol regarding the release or sharing of data about undocumented
persons with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as required under sections
404, 434, and 411A of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996.
    Subd. 7a. Requirement to report to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The commissioner shall comply with the reporting requirements under United States Code, title
42, section 611a, and any federal regulation or guidance adopted under that law.
    Subd. 8. Personal statement. The county agency may accept a signed personal statement
from the applicant or participant explaining the reasons that the documentation requested in
subdivision 2 is unavailable as sufficient documentation at the time of application, recertification,
or change related to eligibility only for the following factors:
(1) a claim of family violence if used as a basis to qualify for the family violence waiver;
(2) information needed to establish an exception under section 256J.24, subdivision 9;
(3) relationship of a minor child to caregivers in the assistance unit;
(4) citizenship status from a noncitizen who reports to be, or is identified as, a victim of
severe forms of trafficking in persons, if the noncitizen reports that the noncitizen's immigration
documents are being held by an individual or group of individuals against the noncitizen's
will. The noncitizen must follow up with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to pursue
certification. If verification that certification is being pursued is not received within 30 days, the
MFIP case must be closed and the agency shall pursue overpayments. The ORR documents
certifying the noncitizen's status as a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons, or the reason
for the delay in processing, must be received within 90 days, or the MFIP case must be closed and
the agency shall pursue overpayments; and
(5) other documentation unavailable for reasons beyond the control of the applicant or
participant. Reasonable attempts must have been made to obtain the documents requested under
subdivision 2.
History: 1997 c 85 art 1 s 21; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 64-66; 1999 c 245 art 6 s 36,37; 2000 c
488 art 10 s 9; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 19,20,66; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 41-44;
2004 c 288 art 4 s 35,36; 2007 c 13 art 1 s 25; 2007 c 147 art 2 s 29

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes